Films - September 2011

Languages

Czech

A Walk Worthwhile(Dobre placená procházka)Directed by Milos Forman and Petr Forman(Czech Republic, 2009, 85 min.)Uli and Vanilka are getting a divorce, but when they receive word from Liverpool that Vanilka's rich aunt has bequeathed to their future child a small fortune, the couple and their friends concoct wily amorous capers to secure the money for themselves.The Avalon TheatreWed., Sept. 14, 8 p.m.

Dari

War and Love in KabulDirected by Helga Reidemeister(Germany, 2009, 87 min.)Hossein and Shaima have loved each other since childhood. Going against their families' hard rules and societal taboos, they see each other as much as possible and dream of living together in peace.The Goethe-InstitutMon., Sept. 26, 6:30 p.m.

English

5 Days of WarDirected by Renny Harlin(U.S., 2011, 113 min.)A renegade American journalist, his cameraman and a young Georgian schoolteacher are caught in the combat zone during the first Russian airstrikes against Georgia during their five-day war in 2008.Landmark's E Street Cinema

Adam and PaulDirected by Lenny Abrahamson(Ireland, 2004, 83 min.)Two homeless junkies wander the streets of contemporary Dublin, forever hanging on to the sad hope of finding some help from their friends.National Gallery of ArtSat., Sept. 24, 4 p.m.

AmigoDirected by John Sayles(U.S., 2010, 124 min.)Legendary Filipino actor Joel Torre stars as a village mayor caught in the murderous crossfire of the Philippine-American War.Theater TBAOpens Fri., Sept. 2

Apollo 18Directed by Gonzalo López-Gallego(U.S., 2011)Decades-old footage from NASA's abandoned Apollo 18 mission, where two American astronauts were sent on a secret expedition, reveals the reason the United States has never returned to the moon.Theater TBAOpens Fri., Sept. 2

The Ballroom of RomanceDirected by Pat O'Connor(Ireland, 1982, 65 min.)The frustrations and few joys of rural life in 1950s Ireland are depicted through the provincial dances at local halls that offered a momentary escape from bleak isolation.National Gallery of ArtSat., Sept. 17, 2 p.m.

BellflowerDirected by Evan Glodell(U.S., 2011, 106 min.)Two best friends spend their free time building "Mad Max"-inspired flamethrowers and muscle cars in preparation for an apocalypse, anticipating the day their imaginary gang will reign supreme, until one of the boys falls in love.Landmark's E Street CinemaOpens Fri., Sept. 9

A Boatload of Wild IrishmenDirected by Mac Dara Ó Curraidhín(Ireland, 2011, 84 min.)This documentary examines the work of American Robert Flaherty (1884–1951), hailed as father of the feature documentary who filmed everyday lives and then using that material to create entertaining narratives.National Gallery of ArtSat., Sept. 24, 2 p.m.

Brighton RockDirected by Rowan Joffe(U.K., 2010, 111 min.)Pinkie, a desperate youth who is hell bent on clawing his way up through the ranks of organized crime in 1960s Britain, seduces an innocent young waitress after she stumbles on evidence linking him to a revenge killing.Landmark's E Street Cinema

The Burning WallDirected by Hava Kohav Beller(U.S., 2002)This documentary employs previously unseen historic footage and interviews with well-known dissidents to examine what leads individuals – initially alone and later on in large numbers – to stand up for freedom and civil rights. (English, Czech and German)The Goethe-InstitutThu., Sept. 29, 6 p.m.

Chasing MadoffDirected by Jeff Prosserman(U.S./Canada, 2011, 91 min.)Harry Markopolos and his team of investigators embark on a 10-year struggle to expose the harrowing truth behind the infamous Bernie Madoff scandal. (English and Spanish)Landmark's E Street Cinema

ColombianaDirected by Olivier Megaton(U.S./France, 2011, 108 min.)A young woman, after witnessing her parents' murder as a child in Bogota, grows up to be a stone-cold assassin. (English and Spanish)Various area theaters

ContagionDirected by Steven Soderbergh(U.S./UAE, 2011, 102 min.)This action-thriller centers around the threat posed by a deadly disease and an international team of doctors contracted by the CDC to deal with the outbreak.Theater TBAOpens Fri., Sept. 9

The DeadDirected by John Huston(U.K./Ireland/U.S., 1987, 83 min.)|James Joyce's desire to portray what he saw as the spiritual "deadness" of Dublin are seen through the reflections of Gabriel Conroy and his wife as they attend a Christmas dinner at the home of his spinster aunts. (Preceded by "John Huston's Dublin" (1980, 50 min.))|National Gallery of ArtSat., Sept. 17, 4 p.m.

The DebtDirected by John Madden(U.S., 2010, 100 min.)Three former Mossad agents are famous for the 1965 death of war criminal Max Rainer but 35 years later, a local European paper publishes an article that the criminal is alive and the agents, now in their late 60s, decide to complete the assignment they never did. (English, German and Hebrew)Landmark's E Street Cinema

The DoubleDirected by Michael Brandt(U.S., 2011)A retired CIA operative is paired with a young FBI agent to unravel the mystery of a senator's murder, with all signs pointing to a Soviet assassin.Theater TBAOpens Fri., Sept. 30

Down the CornerDirected by Joe Comerford(Ireland, 1977, 60 min.)In this half documentary, half fictional narrative, five teenage boys in a working-class suburban development of Dublin struggle against crime, family life and school.National Gallery of ArtSun., Sept. 11, 2 p.m.

Griff the InvisibleDirected by Leon Ford(Australia, 2010, 93 min.)Griff is an awkward office worker who escapes from his ordinary life by assuming the identity of a fantastic superhero at night, but his secret is jeopardized when he meets an unconventional daydreamer who becomes fascinated by his idiosyncrasies, which are equal only to her own.Landmark's E Street CinemaOpens Fri., Sept. 2

The GuardDirected by John Michael McDonagh(Ireland, 2011, 96 min.)An unorthodox Irish policeman with a confrontational personality is teamed up with an uptight FBI agent to investigate an international drug-smuggling ring.AFI Silver Theatre

HungerDirected by Steve McQueen(U.K./Ireland, 2008, 96 min.)Set in 1981 within the walls of Belfast's infamous Maze Prison, "Hunger" details the horrifying physical and psychological brutality faced by IRA prisoners in the days before and during a hunger strike initiated by the charismatic Bobby Sands.Freer Gallery of ArtFri., Sept. 9, 7 p.m.

The InterruptersDirected by Steve James(U.S., 2011, 125 min.)This documentary explores violence in America through the story of three "violence interrupters" in Chicago who, with bravado, humility and even humor, try to protect their communities from the violence they once employed.Landmark's E Street CinemaOpens Fri., Sept. 16

Machine Gun PreacherDirected by Marc Forster(U.S., 2011, 123 min.)Sam Childers is a former drug-dealing biker tough guy who find God and becomes a crusader for hundreds of Sudanese children who've been forced to become soldiers.Theater TBAOpens Fri., Sept. 30

One DayDirected by Lone Scherfig(U.S., 2011, 107 min.)After one day together on their college graduation in 1988, Emma and Dexter are shown each year on the same date to see where they are in their lives and how their friendship has evolved.Landmark's Bethesda Row CinemaLandmark's E Street Cinema

The Other EdenDirected by Muriel Box(Ireland, 1959, 80 min.)The wealthy son of an English colonel identifies romantically with the Irish people, decides to settle down in Ireland, falls for a native Irish beauty, but in the end still manages to provoke his new neighbors when they try to set up a memorial for a celebrated rebel martyr.National Gallery of ArtSun., Sept. 4, 2 p.m.

The Quiet ManDirected by John Ford(U.S., 1952, 129 min.)Retired American boxer John Wayne returns to the village where he was born in Ireland, falling in love with Maureen O'Hara. [Screens with "A Lad from Old Ireland" (1910, 10 min.)]National Gallery of ArtSat., Sept. 3, 1 p.m.

RestlessDirected by Gus Van Sant(U.S., 2011, 91 min.)A terminally ill teenage girl falls for a boy who likes to attend funerals as both encounter the ghost of a Japanese kamikaze pilot from WWII.Theater TBAOpens Fri., Sept. 23

Rocky Road to DublinDirected by Peter Lennon(Ireland, 1968, 70 min.)In late 1960s Dublin, émigré journalist Peter Lennon returns to Ireland to "reconstruct the plight of a community which, having survived 700 years of English occupation, nearly sank under the weight of its own heroes and clergy." (Preceded by "The Making of Rocky Road to Dublin" (2004, 30 min.))National Gallery of ArtFri., Sept. 2, 2:30 p.m.

The Secret of Roan InishDirected by John Sayles(Ireland/U.S., 1994, 103 min.)In 1940s, coastal Ireland, a young girl loses her mother and brother and is exiled to the ancestral home, where she begins to unearth bizarre family legends.National Gallery of ArtSat., Sept. 10, 2 p.m.

French

The Hedgehog(Le hérisson)Directed by Mona Achache(France/Italy, 2009, 100 min.)Paloma, a young girl bent on ending it all on her upcoming 12th birthday, befriends a gruff matron who reads Tolstoy to her cat and a grumpy concierge who change her pessimistic view of life. (French and Japanese)Landmark's E Street CinemaOpens Fri., Sept. 2

The Names of Love(Le nom des gens)Directed by Michel Leclerc(France, 2010, 102 min.)A young, extroverted left-wing activist who sleeps with her political opponents to convert them to her cause is successful meets her match in a Jewish middle-age, middle-of-the road scientist. (French, English, Greek and Arabic)Landmark's Bethesda Row CinemaLandmark's E Street Cinema

German

By Comparison(Zum Vergleich)Directed by Harun Farocki(Germany/Austria, 2009, 61 min.)A brick, its manufacture and its use, allow Harun Farocki to compare labor in a traditional society with work in a highly developed society, merely providing the spectator with material for making the comparison.The Goethe-InstitutMon., Sept. 19, 6:30 p.m.

Hebrew

Seven Minutes in Heaven(Sheva dakot be gan eden)Directed by Omri Givon(Israel, 2008, 94 min.)Galia, a young woman from Jerusalem, and her boyfriend Oren board a local bus that explodes, killing Oren and leaving Galia with memory loss as she attempts to stitch together the shattered fragments of her life and soul.The Avalon TheatreTue., Sept. 27, 8 p.m.

Hindi

Soul of Sand(Pairon Talle)Directed by Sidharth Srinivasan(India, 2010, 98 min.)A watchman and his wife living at an abandoned mine are trapped in their tyrannical landlord's schemes in this thriller set on the outskirts of Delhi.Freer Gallery of ArtSun., Sept. 11, 2 p.m.

Korean

Poetry(Shi)Directed by Chang-dong Lee(South Korea, 2010, 139 min.)A 60-something woman, faced with the discovery of a heinous family crime and in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, finds strength and purpose when she enrolls in a poetry class.Cinema Art Bethesda atLandmark's Bethesda RowSun., Sept. 25, 10 a.m.

Kyrgyz

The Light Thief(Svet-Ake)Directed by Aktan Arym Kubat(Kyrgyzstan, 2010, 80 min.)In this colorful modern-day parable of good and evil, a humble electrician devotes himself to helping his destitute neighbors in a windswept valley of Kyrgyzstan.Freer Gallery of ArtFri., Sept. 16, 7 p.m.

Mandarin

The Empress Dowager(Qing guo qing cheng)Directed by Li Hanxiang(Hong Kong, 1975, 107 min.)This film by Li Hanxiang, the first of five he directed on the Empress Dowager, shaped popular perception of the woman who outlived three emperors and whose reign marked the end of imperial rule in China.Freer Gallery of ArtFri., Sept. 30, 7 p.m.

Polish

Hands Up!(Rece do gory)Directed by Jerzy Skolimowski(Poland, 1968-81, 76 min.)The final film in the Andrzej cycle, "Hands Up!" —whose official ban precipitated Jerzy Skolimowski's exodus — was not screened in Poland until the 1980s, and this 1981 re-edited version of the visually surreal original is the only one now available.National Gallery of ArtSun., Sept. 11, 4:30 p.m.

Identification Marks: None(Rysopis)Directed by Jerzy Skolimowski(Poland, 1964, 75 min.)An attractive young Jerzy Skolimowski cast himself as Andrzej, a callow student hero to find his niche in life while awaiting military service.National Gallery of ArtSat., Sept. 3, 4 p.m.

Walkover(Walkower)Directed by Jerzy Skolimowski(Poland, 1965, 77 min.)Jerzy Skolimowski's second feature is again focused on the life of young protagonist Andrzej who, finished now with military duty, embarks on an amateur boxing career until he meets a government engineer with whom he runs off and regrettably evades an important match.National Gallery of ArtSun., Sept. 4, 4:30 p.m.

Portuguese

Mysteries of Lisbon(Mistérios de Lisboa)Directed by Raoul Ruiz(Portugal, 2010, 272 min.)A jealous countess, wealthy businessman and a young orphaned boy connect with a variety of mysterious individuals across Portugal, France, Italy and Brazil. (Portuguese, French and English)AFI Silver TheatreSept. 23 to 29

Spanish

The Mexican Suitcase(La Maleta Mexicana)Directed by Trisha Ziff(Mexico/Spain, 2011, 86 min.)This documentary tracks three lost boxes, found in a closet in Mexico City in 2007, that contained 4,500 photo negatives by three young exiles from Hungary, Poland and Germany who traveled to Spain together to fight fascism with their cameras.AFI Silver TheatreThu., Sept. 22

Turkish

Three Monkeys(Üç maymun)Directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylon(Turkey, 2008, 109 min.)When a politician kills a pedestrian in a traffic accident, he convinces his driver to take the rap, with the promise of a big payoff when he gets out of prison. But that's too long a wait for his wife and grown son, who hatch schemes to get the money early.Freer Gallery of ArtSun., Sept. 18, 2 p.m.

Events - September 2011

EVENT CATEGORIES

ART

Through Sept. 2gute aussichten: young German photography 2010/2011Works by eight winners of gute aussichten, the seventh annual German competition for graduate photography students, come to Washington on the exhibition's worldwide tour.The Goethe-Institut

Through Sept. 3Fame, Fortune, and Theft: The Shakespeare First FolioThis exhibition traces the global history of Shakespeare's First Folio, the first published collection of the Bard's plays, depicting the ways in which this single book influenced the industries of conservation and book-collecting from the 1620s through the 21st century, eventually becoming a cause for idolatry in itself.Folger Shakespeare Library

Sept. 2 to 30Solomon Wondimu: SKIN – America in Black and WhiteBorn and raised in Ethiopia, Solomon Wondimu has been working on Human Skin Color Project for the past five years, using a palette of 3,000 different colors he has collected from skin-color swatches to question the distinct classifications of people as black or white.Hillyer Art Space

Sept. 3 to Dec. 14Elusive Pioneer of American Documentary PhotographyThis exhibition examines the work Louise Rosskam, an elusive pioneer of American documentary photography in the 1930 and '40s, including her compelling photographs of Southwest D.C. neighborhoods before their destruction for urban renewal as well as her images of Puerto Rico as it developed from an impoverished U.S. possession to an industrialized commonwealth.American University Katzen Arts Center

Sept. 3 to Dec. 14Inner Piece: Works from the Heather and Tony Podesta CollectionThis selection of works comes from the private collection of Tony and Heather Podesta, widely known for their respective lobbying firms but are equally well known for being among the country's most prominent contemporary art collectors.American University Katzen Arts Center

Sept. 3 to Dec. 14Wayne Barrar: An Expanding SubterraNew Zealand photographer Wayne Barrar traveled through America, New Zealand, Australia and France seeking the subterranean places in which people live, work, and play — depicting hidden the underground worksites of mines and universities to the surreal domestic world of the subterranean homes in an opal mining town in South Australia.American University Katzen Arts Center

Through Sept. 4Kandinsky and the Harmony of Silence: Painting with White BorderAfter a visit to his native Moscow, Vasily Kandinsky recorded his "extremely powerful impressions" in his 1913 masterpiece, "Painting with White Border," which, for this exhibition, is reunited with more than 12 preparatory studies from international collections, including the Phillips's oil sketch, and compared with other closely related works.The Phillips Collection

Through Sept. 4Stella Sounds: The Scarlatti K SeriesFor the first time in a museum exhibition, the Phillips Collection presents recent works from Frank Stella's "K "series inspired by the 18th-century composer Domenico Scarlatti's harpsichord sonatas.The Phillips Collection

Sept. 8 to Nov. 4Left Behind (Zurückgelassen)Photographer Friederike Brandenburg visualizes the paradoxical relationship between beauty and decay as he ventures into isolated places of nature otherwise presumed to be untouched by man, where he finds objects — some aesthetic, some absurd — discarded by human civilization.The Goethe-Institut

Sept. 14 to March 4Central Nigeria Unmasked: Arts of the Benue River ValleyThis international exhibit features more than 148 objects used in a range of ritual contexts, with genres as varied and complex as the vast region of Central Nigeria, that demonstrate how the history of the area can be "unmasked" through the dynamic interrelationships of its peoples and their arts.National Museum of African Art

Sept. 15 to Oct. 15YAS: Young Architects of Spain, a Window to the UnknownSpanish architecture has become a global point of reference over the last quarter of the 20th century, but this exhibition shows that architectural excellence can also be found in the unknown work carried out in the studios of a new generation of inspirational architects under 40.American Institute of Architects (AIA)

Sept. 18 to Jan. 8The Invention of Glory: Afonso V and the Pastrana TapestriesThe Pastrana Tapestries — among the finest surviving Gothic tapestries — will be on view together for the first time in the United States.National Gallery of Art

Sept. 23 to Dec. 30Urban_LandscapesArt from Europe and the United States imagines urban areas with great potential for diversification and transformation, playing with known architecture and structures and how the ideas behind them are often obscured by the viewer's angle.Embassy of Austria

Sept. 23 to Jan. 15Manifold Greatness: The Creation and Afterlife of the King James BibleMarking its 400th anniversary this year, the 1611 King James Bible still echoes in books, movies, songs, speeches and sermons today. But who translated it? The Folger Shakespeare Library and University of Oxford draw on their deep resources to uncover the little-known story of one of the most widely read books in the history of the English language.Folger Shakespeare Library

Sept. 24 to Jan. 29Power/Play: China's Empress DowagerFollowing China's disastrous Boxer Rebellion, the Grand Empress Dowager Cixi (1835-1908) used photographic portraiture to rehabilitate her public image, allowing a young aristocratic photographer to take elaborately staged shots of her and her court. As the only photographic series taken of the supreme leader of China for more than 45 years, these images represents a unique convergence of Qing court pictorial traditions, modern photography and Western standards of artistic portraiture.Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

Sept. 25 to Jan. 2Warhol: HeadlinesAndy Warhol had a lifelong obsession with the sensational side of contemporary news media, and his source materials for his artwork — headlines from the tabloid news — will be presented for comparison, revealing Warhol's role as both editor and author.National Gallery of Art

Sept. 25 to Jan. 15Andy Warhol: ShadowsCreated in the last decade of Andy Warhol's life, "Shadows" comprises 102 silkscreened and hand-painted canvases featuring distorted photographs of shadows generated in the artist's studio — forms that at once suggest and mock the bravura brushwork of the abstract expressionists.Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

Through Sept. 29The Phenomenon of Solidarity: Pictures from the History of Poland, 1980-81"The Phenomenon of Solidarity" commemorates the 30th anniversary of the founding of the movement, highlighting formative moments in its history such as the strikes of August 1980 and the enforcement of martial law in 1981, as well as the Solidarity Trade Union's relations with the communist regime and the prevailing social sentiment toward the movement.Woodrow Wilson Center

Through Sept. 30Democratic PrinciplesThis exhibit of 22 portraits by Elizabeth McClancy represent contemporary progressive political leaders in ways that reveal the magnitude of the challenges they face and the leadership they must assume. A special panel discussion on June 8 at 7 p.m. features Howard Dean and will discussthe next of the arts in democratic development. For information, visit www.democraticwoman.org.The Woman's National Democratic Club

Through Oct. 2The Guerrilla Girls Talk BackThe Guerrilla Girls, a group of anonymous artist-activists, critique the sexism and racism pervading contemporary culture through their populist art production, which includes posters, books and live performances in which they wear gorilla masks.National Museum of Women in the Arts

Through Oct. 2Pressing Ideas: Fifty Years of Women's Lithographs from TamarindFeaturing 75 works by 42 artists including Elaine de Kooning, Louise Nevelson, Margo Humphrey, Jaune Quick-To-See Smith and Kiki Smith, "Pressing Ideas" explores the breadth of experimentation in lithography and women's contributions to a workshop that stretches creative boundaries.National Museum of Women in the Arts

Through Oct. 2Left Behind: Selected Gifts from the Heather and Tony Podesta CollectionFeaturing photographs of unpopulated spaces in which a human presence is not evident but implied, this exhibition celebrates recent gifts from the Podestas to the Phillips.The Phillips Collection

Through Oct. 2In the Tower: Nam June PaikA new exhibition featuring 20 works by groundbreaking contemporary artist Nam June Paik (1923–2006) is the third in a series of shows installed in the Tower Gallery that centers on developments in art since the midcentury.National Gallery of Art

Through Oct. 9NASA / ART: 50 Years of ExplorationMore than 70 pieces of art — from the illustrative to the abstract — offer a look at the works commissioned by the NASA Art Program, which was established soon after the inception of the U.S. space program in 1958 as a way to communicate the accomplishments, setbacks and sheer excitement of space exploration over the past five decades to the public.National Air and Space Museum

Through Oct. 21Latin American Artists of Italian DescentThis selection of artwork by Latin artists of Italian descent offers a symbolic yet significant exploration of the Italian cultural influence in Latin America, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Italy's unification.Inter-American Development Bank Cultural Center

Through Oct. 22Mexico Through the Lens of National GeographicWith more than 150 articles, no country has seen more coverage in National Geographic magazine than Mexico, generating a stunning archive of visual imagery documenting the country's culture, history and physical beauty — a slice of which can be seen in this selection of 132 photographs drawn from the National Geographic's archives.Mexican Cultural Institute

Through Oct. 23Chris Martin: Painting BigChris Martin's large-scale abstract paintings are tactile and stitched-together, incorporating found objects and collage into their abstract geometries and rhythmic patterns and relating as much to the physical world as to his own memories and experiences.Corcoran Gallery of Art

Through Oct. 28Publishing Modernism: The Bauhaus in PrintHow is it that an art school that was open for a mere 14 years — during which time it suffered chronic financial shortfalls, survived a turbulent political situation, claimed just 33 faculty members, and graduated only about 1,250 students — came to have such a lasting impression on modern design and art education? Despite these difficulties, the Bauhaus did precisely that.National Gallery of Art

Through Nov. 6Perspectives: Hale TigerMultimedia artist Hale Tenger, born in Izmir, Turkey, creates videos and installations that examine the tangible and intangible traces of events, filming the façade of the St. George Hotel in Beirut — the site of the assassination of Rafik Hariri, former prime minister of Lebanon — while it was being renovated from 2005 to 2007.Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

Through Nov. 27The Gothic Spirit of John Taylor ArmsJohn Taylor Arms (1887–1953), an American printmaker, believed in the uplifting quality of Gothic art and the power of close observation, skillfully transcribed. This exhibition presents selected examples from the artist's entire career, from his early New York works to his finest images of European cathedrals.National Gallery of Art

Through Nov. 27Italian Master Drawings from the Wolfgang Ratjen Collection: 1525-1835The splendors of Italian draftsmanship from the late Renaissance to the height of the neoclassical movement are showcased in an exhibition of 65 superb drawings assembled by the European private collector Wolfgang Ratjen (1943–97).National Gallery of Art

DANCE

Sat., Sept. 3, 8 p.m.KanKouran: LegendsA local institution based in D.C., the KanKouran West African Dance Company celebrates the legacy and artistry of dance's living legends, Melvin Deal and Chuck Davis. Tickets are $30.GW Lisner Auditorium

Sat., Sept. 17, 7 p.m.Sayat Nova: Journey Through TimeBoston's Sayat Nova Dance Company takes its name from the famous 18th-century troubadour, Sayat Nova, whose beautiful music and poetry captures the essence of the Armenian soul and spirit. Tickets are $35 or $45.GW Lisner Auditorium

DISCUSSIONS

Fri., Sept. 16, 7 p.m. Deciphering the Art of the Ancient Maya and the Year 2012 Art historian and archaeologist David Stuart, the foremost expert on Mayan hieroglyphs, discusses Mayan predictions about the end of the world and his most recent book, "The Order of Days: The Maya World and the Truth about 2012."Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building

Tue., Sept. 20, 5:30 p.m. Embassy Night With a 23-year history of connecting the area's leading firms to top international markets, the World Trade Center Institute's annual Embassy Night brings together the region's key decision makers, executives, ambassadors and senior embassy representatives spanning more than two dozen countries. Among the business connections highlighted at this year's Embassy Night are Brazil and ARINC; Indonesia and Jhpiego; South Africa and Emergent BioSolutions; Britain and BWI; and Uruguay and the University of Maryland. Tickets are $200; for information, visit www.wtci.org/embassy_night_2011. Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center

Fri., Sept. 9, 7 p.m.Pianist Roberto HidalgoPraised as a pianist of great technical skill and interpretive warmth, Roberto Hidalgo performs works by Carlos Chávez, Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, Manuel de la Falla and Frederic Chopin. Admission is free but reservations are recommended and can be made by emailing
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.Mexican Cultural Institute

Sept. 9 to 11A Call to CompassionThe Washington National Cathedral presents a three-day commemoration of the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, with events such as "A Concert to Honor" on Sept. 9 featuring Brahms Requiem performed by the Marine Chamber Orchestra and U.S. Navy Band; "A Concert for Hope" with Denyce Graves, Alan Jackson and Patti LaBelle on Sept. 11; as well as an interfaith vigil on the morning of Sept. 11 when the cathedral tolls its 12-ton funeral bell to mark the moments when airplanes struck the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and crashed in Pennsylvania. For information, visit www.calltocompassion.com.Washington National Cathedral

THEATER

Through Sept. 4Julius CaesarThe Shakespeare Theatre Company's annual "Free For All," a much-loved Washington tradition that has offered free performances to the public for the past 20 years, kicks off the company's 25th anniversary season with a revival of its acclaimed production of "Julius Caesar" and his famed life-and-death struggle for power in Rome.Sidney Harman

Sept. 7 to Oct. 9Fahrenheit 451Based on the Ray Bradbury novel, Fahrenheit 451 shows a future without books in which firemen in a futuristic world burn books and hunt down anyone who risks reading them. Free-thought and intellectualism are discouraged, questioning authority is dangerous, and the masses are spoon-fed a diet of interactive reality shows on their huge TVs. For information or to purchase to tickets, visit, www.roundhousetheater.org.The Round House Theatre

Sept. 7 to Oct. 16The Habit of ArtDeep in the bowels of London's National Theatre, Benjamin Britten is having trouble with his latest opera and seeks out his collaborator, poet W. H. Auden, after a 25-year separation — as both aging artists wrestle with their desires, jealousies, the ephemeral connection between creativity and inspiration, and all the reasons their friendship fell apart. Tickets are $35 to $69.The Studio Theatre

Sept. 9 to Oct. 23Trouble in MindBattle lines are drawn within a newly integrated theater company on Broadway in 1957 as it prepares to open a misguided race play on the Great White Way. Please call for ticket details.Arena Stage

Sept. 10 to 24ToscaThe Washington National Opera's 2011-12 season begins with Puccini's "Tosca" starring American soprano Patricia Racette as Floria Tosca, who tries to save the life of her artist lover in 19th-century Rome against the backdrop of Napoleon's invasion. An opening night gala will be held Sept. 10, and a free opera screening will be held Sept. 22 in the outfield at Nationals Park. Tickets start at $55. Reservations for the opening night gala start at $1,000.Kennedy Center Opera House

Sept. 13 to Oct. 9FELA!Winner of three Tony Awards, "FELA!" is the true story of the legendary Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, whose soulful Afrobeat rhythms ignited a generation and whose civil rights struggle defied a corrupt and oppressive military regime. Tickets are $25 to $130.The Shakespeare Theatre Harman Hall

Sept. 14 to Oct. 2MacbethSynetic performs its wordless production of Shakespeare's story of murder, madness and self-destruction, driven by the outsize ambitions of a husband and wife, as part of its Silent Shakespeare Festival. Please call for ticket details.Synetic Theater at Crystal City

Sept. 15 to Oct. 9¡Ay, Carmela!When a vaudeville comedy duo accidentally fall into the hands of Franco's fascists troops during the Spanish Civil War, they witness an execution and are forced to perform for other captives in this heartbreaking portrayal of love, loss and the inhumanity of war by José Sanchis Sinisterra, one of Spain's most acclaimed contemporary playwrights. Tickets are $34 or $38.GALA Hispanic Theatre

Sept. 23 to Oct. 30ParadeOstracized for his faith and Northern heritage, Jewish factory manager Leo Frank is accused of murdering a teenage factory girl in this Tony-winning musical drama based on the true story of Frank's trial and lynching in early 20th-century Atlanta. Tickets are $Ford's Theatre

Sept. 28 to Oct. 16LungsA couple negotiates sex, parenthood, and responsibilities large and small in Duncan Macmillan's intimate drama about chance, change and consequence. Tickets are $20.The Studio Theatre

Sept. 28 to Oct. 30Les MisérablesCameron Mackintosh presents a new, fully staged 25th-anniversary production of Boublil and Schönberg's legendary musical "Les Misérables," featuring re-imagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo that brings this enduring story about the survival of the human spirit to life. Tickets start at $39.Kennedy Center Opera House

Through Oct. 2Oklahoma!The best-selling show in Arena Stage's 60-year history is back for 12 weeks. Inspired by the toughness of the prairie, Artistic Director Molly Smith sets her production in the robust world of territory life filled with a cast as rich and complex as the great tapestry of America itself, set against the backdrop of Rodgers and Hammerstein's timeless music. Please call for ticket details.Arena Stage

Through Oct. 16The Boy Detective FailsIn the twilight of a childhood full of wonder, a Billy the "boy detective" faces a mystery he can't comprehend: the shocking death of his young sister and crime-solving partner Caroline. Ten years later, a 30-year-old Billy returns to his quiet New Jersey town after an extended stay at St. Vitus' Hospital for the mentally ill determined to right old wrongs. Call for ticket information.Signature Theatre

TOURS / SHOWCASES

Sun., Sept. 18, 12 p.m.27th Anniversary Kalorama House and Embassy TourThis annual tour hosted by the Woodrow Wilson House opens the doors to the embassies and ambassadorial residences that reside in the Kalorama neighborhood. This year's tour features the residence of the European Union ambassador, a magnificent home built in 1926; the temporary residence of the Cypriot ambassador, which, despite its imposing limestone façade, is only one room deep, the result of the oddly shaped lot on which it sits; the residence of Colombian ambassador, inspired by Chateau Balleroy, located in Normandy, France; and the Slovenian Embassy, an aluminum and glass chancery built in the 1960s that has undergone a complete remodeling to showcase Slovenian design. Tickets are $40; a pre-brunch tour package is available for $75. For information, visit www.woodrowwilsonhouse.org.The Woodrow Wilson House